Life is a series of choices. I choose to run because it is fun, because it is healthy and because it give me a chance to reflect on what is going on around me. Training for a marathon changes that a bit. I look at it more as a hobby than probably others do. With a 20-something month-old in the house, I cannot afford for it to be anything other than a hobby.

But I’ve been running low on miles this week. And you may remember that Mrs. Dakotabranch and I are signed up for the Shamrock Run 5K in Sioux Falls this weekend. Miles are important to a marathon training regimen. a 5K is 3.1 milles. Before today, my total miles for the week stood at 7.1. Ugh. Normally for a Saturday 5K, I take Thursday and Friday off from any running at all. I can’t do that this week because I’m behind in miles for the week and the month.

So I stepped out into the dark and cold (17 degrees, winds E-6). 7.1 miles on the frozen plain around our small South Dakota town. Did I mention I cannot wait for spring to finally arrive?

I’d still like to run down that 5K goal I have, but it probably won’t happen this time.